Ugh...eggs on my zoas

somewherre · 06/13/2008, 04:16 PM

As you can see in the pictures below, I've found some egg sacs on my sunflower zoas. I haven't seen a nudi or spider, nor are they spiral shaped, so I'm hoping they aren't actually nudi eggs. Notice in the second picture that you can see the sac around the eggs - sorta looks tunicate or pineapple-sponge shaped.

Also below is a picture of what they look like when open. They've been opening wonderfully since that picture was taken when I got them a couple of weeks ago. Are the white spots on the "flower" part anything to be concerned about?

In general, the zoas seem pretty darned happy and healthy.

Anyone have any ideas?

somewherre · 06/13/2008, 04:20 PM

Oh yeah...I did a brief (< 1 min.) FW dip with some good swirling, and nothing fell off. Probably a useless effort, but figured I might see something fall, even with that short of a time.

chillman · 06/13/2008, 04:26 PM

I'm not 100% sure if they are nudi eggs, but they could be. Do you ever see nudis in your tank? Try checking at night when the lights are out, and use a flashlight and a magnifying glass. Sounds weird but it works. When I found nudis and then nudi eggs I ended up cutting off the polyps with a razor that had the eggs (outside of the tank, of course). But I had them on large colonies so losing a few polyps was worth it. Do a search on nudi eggs for pictures and see if they are the same. Good luck.

chillman · 06/13/2008, 04:27 PM

oh and I forgot to say, fw dip won't remove the eggs.

Reef n' Madness · 06/13/2008, 04:43 PM

nudi eggs are usually spiral shape like you mentioned. I would guess maybe nassarius snails.

Reef n' Madness · 06/13/2008, 04:46 PM

I was going to post a picture but I found this cool video in the process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VKK8...eature=related

Hopefully they are snail eggs.

somewherre · 06/13/2008, 05:05 PM

Kay - thanks! I didn't watch the whole video

, but that was a nice catch on the shape of the egg sack! I'll keep an eye on the eggs to see what happens, if anything. I do have a bunch of nassarius snails in my tank, and it would be pretty cool if new ones hatched in there

Chill - was hoping (well, not really) to see a nudi or spider fall off in the FW. It woud have been a confirmation, even if not good news. I do frequently peek at the tank with a magnifying glass, but could do with a better one. As well as a better camera too

-S

SW_nOOb_SC · 06/13/2008, 09:18 PM

They look in size and color to nudi eggs i found on some of mine months ago. But my nudi eggs were in a spiral shape. Hopefully snails like others said.

STH53 · 06/15/2008, 12:38 PM

Am I missing something. Isn't that a nudi in the 3rd picture?

somewherre · 06/15/2008, 01:45 PM

STH - no, it's a sea hare. I do have lettuce nudibranchs in the tank, but the concern here is for the zoa-eating ones. Both the sea hare and the lettuce nudis are harmless.

DaveJ · 06/16/2008, 12:21 AM

Yes snail eggs... have any nassarius in the tank? They look like that.

06/13/2008, 04:16 PM	#1
somewherre Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Castleton on Hudson, NY Posts: 68	Ugh...eggs on my zoas As you can see in the pictures below, I've found some egg sacs on my sunflower zoas. I haven't seen a nudi or spider, nor are they spiral shaped, so I'm hoping they aren't actually nudi eggs. Notice in the second picture that you can see the sac around the eggs - sorta looks tunicate or pineapple-sponge shaped. Also below is a picture of what they look like when open. They've been opening wonderfully since that picture was taken when I got them a couple of weeks ago. Are the white spots on the "flower" part anything to be concerned about? In general, the zoas seem pretty darned happy and healthy. Anyone have any ideas?

06/13/2008, 04:43 PM	#5
Reef n' Madness Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 940	nudi eggs are usually spiral shape like you mentioned. I would guess maybe nassarius snails. __________________ ~Kay

06/13/2008, 04:46 PM	#6
Reef n' Madness Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 940	I was going to post a picture but I found this cool video in the process. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VKK8...eature=related Hopefully they are snail eggs. __________________ ~Kay

06/13/2008, 09:18 PM	#8
SW_nOOb_SC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Columbia SC Posts: 145	They look in size and color to nudi eggs i found on some of mine months ago. But my nudi eggs were in a spiral shape. Hopefully snails like others said. __________________ -Matt

06/16/2008, 12:21 AM	#11
DaveJ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,140	Yes snail eggs... have any nassarius in the tank? They look like that. __________________ RIP ReefCast... it was nice while you lasted. Evan <=> Liberace <=> Evan Current Tank Info: 150 Reef.

06/13/2008, 04:20 PM	#2
somewherre Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Castleton on Hudson, NY Posts: 68	Oh yeah...I did a brief (< 1 min.) FW dip with some good swirling, and nothing fell off. Probably a useless effort, but figured I might see something fall, even with that short of a time.

06/13/2008, 04:26 PM	#3
chillman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SI, NY Posts: 164	I'm not 100% sure if they are nudi eggs, but they could be. Do you ever see nudis in your tank? Try checking at night when the lights are out, and use a flashlight and a magnifying glass. Sounds weird but it works. When I found nudis and then nudi eggs I ended up cutting off the polyps with a razor that had the eggs (outside of the tank, of course). But I had them on large colonies so losing a few polyps was worth it. Do a search on nudi eggs for pictures and see if they are the same. Good luck.

06/13/2008, 04:27 PM	#4
chillman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SI, NY Posts: 164	oh and I forgot to say, fw dip won't remove the eggs.

06/13/2008, 05:05 PM	#7
somewherre Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Castleton on Hudson, NY Posts: 68	Kay - thanks! I didn't watch the whole video , but that was a nice catch on the shape of the egg sack! I'll keep an eye on the eggs to see what happens, if anything. I do have a bunch of nassarius snails in my tank, and it would be pretty cool if new ones hatched in there Chill - was hoping (well, not really) to see a nudi or spider fall off in the FW. It woud have been a confirmation, even if not good news. I do frequently peek at the tank with a magnifying glass, but could do with a better one. As well as a better camera too -S

06/15/2008, 12:38 PM	#9
STH53 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 86	Am I missing something. Isn't that a nudi in the 3rd picture?

06/15/2008, 01:45 PM	#10
somewherre Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Castleton on Hudson, NY Posts: 68	STH - no, it's a sea hare. I do have lettuce nudibranchs in the tank, but the concern here is for the zoa-eating ones. Both the sea hare and the lettuce nudis are harmless.